Facilities

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The 60th-ranked Marshall University women's tennis team will close its regular season against two nationally-ranked opponents this week. The Thundering Herd (13-8) will play host to No. 51 Virginia Tech Wednesday at Cabell Midland High School (weather permitting) with a 1 p.m. start. Marshall will then travel to Louisville, Ky., Friday to face 43rd-ranked Louisville at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center with first serve set for 1 p.m.

Virginia Tech (14-9) leads the all-time series lead over Marshall 9-4 while the Herd has the all-time series advantage over the Cardinals (14-5), 3-2.

"We are looking forward to the opportunity to play Virginia Tech here at home," Marshall's head coach John Mercer said. "They have had a great year and are a strong team."

Kellie Schmitt (Pittsburgh, Pa.) ranked 58th nationally, leads the Herd with an 18-2 record this season at the number one mark. Playing mostly the number six position, Jessica Keener (Reston, Va.) follows with an 11-5 record. Karolina Soor (Lindesberg, Sweden) stands 5-1 at the three and 4-9 at the number two spot.

Senior Jeanne Schwartz (West Palm Beach, Fla.) will play her final home match Wednesday for Marshall University. She is 6-3 at the four, 0-4 at the three, 4-3 at the two and 0-1 at the number one slots.

"I am excited to play Virginia Tech in my last home match but it hasn't set in yet that it will be my final home match," Marshall's only senior Jeanne Schwartz said. "The past four years have been an amazing experience for me."

Isabell Raich (Klaus, Austria) stands 3-7 at the four, 8-2 at the three, and 0-1 at the number two mark. Thaddea Lock (Bristol, England) holds a 9-8 record at the five and 0-1 at the number three position. Yulia Kashelkina (Moscow, Russia) is 5-4 at the six and 1-0 at the five in singles competition.

The 26th-ranked doubles pair of Schmitt and Soor holds a 15-3 record this season at the number one mark. Playing mostly the doubles two slot, Raich and Lock stand at 8-11 while Keener and Kashelkina are 12-7 at mostly the number three doubles position.

"Louisville is another great ranked team," Coach Mercer added. "We will have to play well against them to have a chance to win at their place."